Centrifugal bowl



Aug. 16, 1949.

G. F. WHEELWRIGHT, JR

CENTRIFUGAL BOWL Filed Aug. 1Q, 1946 www ' im Jg another series of generally vertical passages which at their lower ends are closed by the distributor Il. The Vertical passages defined by the holes Z2 lead upwardly into outlets 23 formed in a top disc 24 which is sealed along its outer edge to the bowl top 5, as shown at 24a. On its upper surface, the top disc has Vradial Wings 25 dening with the bowl top a series of radial discharge passages leading toward the bowl axis to an annular space 26 between the bowl neck 'I and a neck 2l on the top disc. The space 26 is provided with a discharge ring 28 seated at its inner edge on a shoulder of the neel; 2l, the outer edge of the discharge ring being held against thetop of neck l by a clamping ring 29.

The inner edges of the conical discs are disposed near the tubular shaft l 5 and partly dene therewith a generally vertical passage 3l) `which leads upwardly from the distributor Il to an annular outlet 3l between the tubular shaft and the neck 2'! of the top disc.

In the peripheral portion of the separating chamber is an annular insert 33 having an inwardly facing recess with radial wings 3d. The

Vinsert 33 has discharge ports 35 leading from the peripheral portion of the separating chamber into an annular space 36 between the insert and the outer wall of the bowl. Wings 31 on the bottom of the insert define radial passages for conducting the llushing liquid from the receptacle portion l2 into the annular space 36. Discharge nozzles 38 are mounted in the outer wall of the bowl shell in alignment with the ports 35.

In operation, the tailings ow down through the spaces between the tubular shaft l5 and receptacle 9 and out under the distributor il to the inlets i3. From the inlets I8, the tailings flow upwardly into the separating chamber through the holes 2l and into the spaces between the conical discs 2G. Since the tailings are fed between the discs at a region of relatively large centrifugal force, the starch solids (the heaviest constituent) are quickly thrown outwardly between the discs, with some water, and into the peripheral part of the separating chamber in the insert 33. The lighter constituents, consisting mainly of gluten and Water, are forced inwardly between the discs from the openings 2l, and in their movement toward the bowl axis a separation of the gluten from the water occurs, the gluten moving along the undersides of the discs, and the water moving along the top surfaces of the discs. When the separated gluten reaches the next series of holes 22, it ilows upwardly through the vertical passage formed by these holes and through the outlets 23 into the discharge passages '25 and the outlet 26. In this upward movement of the gluten, a washing action may occur between the gluten streams and the water component which continues to move inward between the discs. From the inner edges of the discs, the separated water flows upwardly through the outlet 3| near the bowl axis.

The starch solids, which accumulate in the peripheral portion of the separating chamber, are continuously discharged through the ports 35 and nozzles 38, this discharge of the starch being aided by a ushing liquid, such as water, which is fed through the inner tube l i, the receiver 9 and the passages 3l into the space 36 between the discharge ports and the nozzles 38.

It will be apparent that in the new bowl, a

1 three-way separation of the tailings is effected between a single series of conical discs 2U, the

separated constituents being discharged throughV uof three constituents of different specific gravities, each from the others, the bowl having a Y separating chamber with a peripheral portion for receiving the heaviest separated constituent, and an outlet near the bowl axis for the separated lightest constituent, a series of conical discs in the chamber having their outer edges spaced a substantial distance from the bowl periphery, the discs partly defining near the bowl axis a generally vertical passage for the lightest constituent separated between the discs and leading to said iirst outlet, the discs also partly defining a second generally vertical passage for the intermediate constituent separated between the discs, the second passage being located between the rst passage and the outer edges of the discs, a top disc spaced from the bowl top and extendlng outwardly beyond the radius of said second passage, the top disc having an outlet opening at approximately the radius of said second passage and through which the intermediate separated constituent from said second passage flows to a discharge passage between the top disc and the bowl top, said outlet opening being located at a shorter radius from the bowl axis than the outer edges of said rst discs and the-top disc but at a greater radius than said first passage, means for sealing the outer edge of the top disc to the bowltop, and means for feeding the mixture to be separated into the spaces between the discs near one edge thereof, said means including an inlet opening to the chamber oiset radially from said second passage..

2. A centrifugal bowl as delined in claim l, in which said outer periphery of the bowl has outlets for the heaviest separated constituent.

3. A centrifugal bowl as defined in claim l, in which the discs also partly dene a third generally vertical passage at a substantially greater radius from the bowl axis than said second passage and forming part of said feeding means.

4. A centrifugal bowl as defined in claim l,

4comprising also a tubular shaft extending into the bowl for receiving the mixture to be separated and having a distributor portion at least partly defining an outwardly extending passage leading to an inlet to the chamber, said generally vertical passage for the lightest separated cona smaller radius than the outer edges of said rst discs, the third vertical passage communicating at its lower end with said inlet and being closed at its upper end by the top disc.

5. A centrifugal bowl as defined in claim 1, in which said discharge passage extends directly inwardly from said outlet opening.

GEORGE F. WHEELWRIGHT, J R.

(References on followingV page)Y REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Anderson Jan. 18, 1916 Nyrop Nov. 12, 1929 Fawcett July 12, 1932 Lindgren Nov. 8, 1932 Number Number 10 370,651 

